Data Recovery Cost in Melbourne: What You'll Pay and What to Do First
Service: Data Recovery Melbourne · Updated October 2026
Data recovery costs in Melbourne depend mostly on one thing: whether the drive still works. If it does, getting your files back is careful technical work charged by time. If it does not, the drive needs a specialist lab. This guide sets out what we charge, what we do not do, and what to do right now to protect your files.
What we charge for data recovery (2026)
Prices include GST.
| Situation | Our price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deleted files on a working computer or drive | $125 remote / $205 on-site | One-hour minimum, then billed by time |
| Formatted, corrupted or unreadable partition on a working drive | $205 on-site | Larger drives take longer to scan |
| Moving files off an old or failing-but-readable computer | $205 on-site | New storage, if needed, is quoted first |
| External or USB drive that still shows up | $125 remote / $205 on-site | Depends on where the drive is |
| Clicking, not detected, dropped or water-damaged drive | Referred to a specialist lab | We do not open drives; the lab quotes its own price |
| Files encrypted by ransomware | $125 remote / $205 on-site | Restore from backup where one exists; no decryption is promised |
“$125 remote / $205 on-site” is the one-hour minimum. Which one applies is confirmed when you book.
What changes the cost
- Drive size. A large drive takes longer to scan, so more time is billed.
- How much has been written since. The more the drive has been used after the files were lost, the more work it takes and the less can come back.
- Encryption. BitLocker and modern Mac drives need the original password or recovery key. Without it, recovery may not be possible at any price.
- Where the files go. If you need a new drive to put the recovered files on, it is quoted before it is bought.
What happens when you book data recovery in Melbourne?
Geeks I.T. Melbourne charges data recovery by the hour: $205/hour onsite or $125/hour remote, with a one-hour minimum and no call-out fee. We diagnose first, then recover deleted files, formatted drives, and files from PCs that won’t start or drives that won’t mount. The type of failure decides how long the job takes, and so what you pay. See our data recovery service in Melbourne for full details.
Onsite, your drive never has to be posted or couriered anywhere, and you can watch the work being done. Remote work suits a computer that still starts and is online, and it costs less per hour.
We start by working out what has actually gone wrong. A drive that no longer shows up, a PC that will not start, accidentally deleted files and a formatted USB stick are all different problems, and the right approach differs for each. Diagnosing first means we do not guess, avoids actions that could overwrite the data you want back, and lets us tell you early whether the job is likely to be short or long.
Physical vs logical failure
A logical failure is a software-side problem: deleted files, a formatted drive, a corrupted file system, a drive that won’t mount or an operating system that won’t start. We can work on these onsite or remotely. If a PC has failed but the drive inside it is still readable, we can extract your files from that drive.
A physical failure is damage to the drive itself, for example clicking sounds, a drive that is not detected at all, or one that has been dropped. We do not do board-level repair. If diagnosis shows the drive is physically damaged beyond what we can read, we will tell you plainly, and you may need a specialist lab for that kind of work.
What to do before you call
- Stop using the affected drive or computer straight away.
- Do not install recovery software onto the drive you are trying to recover from.
- Do not keep restarting a machine that is making unusual noises or failing to boot.
- Note what happened just before the problem, such as a power cut, a drop, a failed update or an accidental deletion.
Recovery results depend on the condition of the drive, and we cannot promise every file will come back, but acting early gives you the best chance.
Customers have told us what this looks like in practice. Irma wrote of our technician Shanesh: “my mother board was corrupt and he managed to extract and save files that I had not backed up, truly grateful and a lifesaver.” Izzan’s review also named what mattered to them: “most importantly, that I could retrieve my files”. Call us on 03 7057 2770 or book a technician online. To avoid needing recovery next time, see our data backup services.
How much does data recovery cost in Melbourne?
Data recovery with Geeks I.T. Melbourne is charged at $205/hour onsite or $125/hour remote, with a one-hour minimum and no call-out fee. The total depends on the condition of the drive and how much work is involved, which we assess at diagnosis.
What should I do first if I have lost files?
Stop using the drive or computer straight away. Do not install recovery software onto the affected drive, and avoid repeatedly restarting a failing machine. Continued use can overwrite data, so call us on 03 7057 2770 before trying anything else.
Do you do data recovery onsite or remotely?
Both. Remote suits software and logical problems, such as deleted files, where the computer still starts and is online. Onsite suits a PC that won't start, where the drive needs to be removed and connected to another machine to extract files, or where you would rather we work in front of you.
Can you recover files from a PC that won't start?
Often this is possible, depending on whether the fault is with the drive or elsewhere in the computer. If the drive is still readable, we can extract your files from it. We do not do board-level repair, so if the drive is physically damaged beyond what we can read, you may need a specialist lab.
How long does data recovery usually take?
Time is billed hourly with a one-hour minimum, so the length of the job decides the cost. It depends on the condition of the drive, how much data there is to recover, and whether the drive is detected at all. We give you an estimate after diagnosis.
Lost files? Stop using the drive and call us.
We will tell you what it will cost before anyone starts.
What to do (and not do) right now
Do
- Stop using the drive. Every new write lowers the chance of getting files back.
- Power down and disconnect if you hear clicking or grinding.
- Write down what happened: when the files went missing, what was running, any error messages.
Don’t
- Don’t run recovery software on a failing drive. If the drive is physically failing, a long scan can finish it off.
- Don’t open the drive. Hard drive platters need a cleanroom.
- Don’t install anything on the affected drive, including recovery tools.
Is data recovery worth it?
It depends on what is on the drive. Family photos and videos, business records with no backup, and tax or legal documents are usually worth recovering. Old downloads you can get again usually are not. Either way, once the files are back, set up an automatic backup so the same drive cannot cost you twice.
Frequently asked: data recovery pricing in Melbourne
How much does data recovery cost in Melbourne?
Recovering files from a drive that still works is charged by time: $205 per hour on-site or $125 per hour remote, including GST, with a one-hour minimum. A simple recovery of deleted files often fits in that first hour; scanning a large or damaged drive can take longer, and we tell you before the job runs past the first hour.
What if my hard drive is clicking or not detected?
Stop using it and power it down. A drive with a mechanical or electronic fault needs a specialist lab with a cleanroom. We do not do that work ourselves. We can assess the drive and refer you, and the lab quotes its own price.
Is there a call-out fee?
No. The $205 hourly rate is the price for a technician attending in Melbourne. There is no separate call-out fee.
Do you charge if no data can be recovered?
No surprises — we confirm the hourly rate before we start. Visits have a one-hour minimum ($205/hr onsite, $125/hr remote), and No Fix, No Fee excludes hardware repairs and parts.
Can you recover files from a Mac?
Yes, if the drive still works. Recovering files from a working Mac is support work at the same rates. We do not repair Mac hardware.
How do I stop needing data recovery again?
Set up an automatic backup once your files are back. See our backup and transfer service.
Get your files back
Same-day appointments across Melbourne where we can, seven days.